Thermoelectric Device Based Mobile Freezer/Heater

ABSTRACT

A heating and cooling system is connected to a mobile food carrying cart comprising at least one shelf and one or more thermoelectric devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to mobile food carrying carts and, moreparticularly, a method and apparatus for heating and cooling a mobilefood carrying cart.

2. Description of the Related Art

Mobile food carrying carts are used to store and ship food products todifferent locations at a desired temperature. In contemporary mobilefood carrying carts, chilled air is circulated about the interior of thecart to cool the contents to a desired temperature. The air is typicallycooled by a vapor-compression system having a vapor compression cycle.Vapor compression based cooling systems can have low coefficients ofperformance of less than 2.

Vapor compression based cooling systems cool all of the food products ina given cart to a fixed set temperature, which can preclude thetransport of more than one food type. Moreover, the food product must beremoved and heated by a separate piece of equipment, such as an oven ormicrowave. In addition, vapor compression based cooling systems havehigh noise, high vibration and a considerable weight, all affecting themobility of the cart.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved mobile food cart thatprovides efficient fine tune temperature control for the transport anddelivery of different food types at their requisite temperature. Themethod and apparatus of the present invention provide for efficient finetune temperature control of food products or the like at a desiredtemperature through the use of a thermoelectric device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermoelectricmobile food carrying cart with efficient fine tune temperature control.

It is another object of the present invention to provide athermoelectric mobile food carrying cart with improved mobility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a heating and cooling system connected to a mobile foodcarrying cart is provided. The system includes at least one shelf andone or more thermoelectric devices. The one or more thermoelectricdevices are connected to the at least one shelf. Each of the one or morethermoelectric devices is in thermal communication with the at least oneshelf.

In another aspect, a mobile food carrying cart for transporting foodproducts to different locations at a desired temperature is providedwhich comprises a support structure, at least one shelf, and one or morethermoelectric devices. The at least one shelf is removably connected tothe support structure. The one or more thermoelectric devices areconnected to the at least one shelf. Each of the one or morethermoelectric devices is in thermal communication with the at least oneshelf.

In yet another aspect, a method of transporting food products isprovided. The method comprises storing the food products in a mobilecart having one or more thermoelectric devices in thermal communicationwith the food products, controlling energy provided to the one or morethermoelectric devices connected to at least one shelf of the mobilecart, and transporting the mobile cart to a desired location fordelivery of the food products.

The thermoelectric devices can have a connection socket. The cart canfurther comprise a control box selectively connectable to the connectionsocket. The cart can further comprise a power supply connected to thecontrol box. The control box can adjustably control energy provided tothe one or more thermoelectric devices from the power supply. The powersupply can be selected from the group consisting of a fuel cell, aphotovoltaic, a fuel or heat driven generator, an internal combustionengine, a solar cell, a battery bank, a power grid, and any combinationthereof.

The thermoelectric devices can be a plurality of thermoelectric devicesalong a length of the at least one shelf. Each of the plurality ofthermoelectric devices can be independently controllable by the controlbox. The cart can further comprise a vapor compression cycle connectedto the mobile food carrying cart. The at least one shelf can be aplurality of shelves. The method can further comprise removablyconnecting a power supply to a quick connect socket. The quick connectsocket can be connected to the one or more thermoelectric devices.

The above-described and other features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in theart from the following detailed description, drawings, and appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a mobile food carrying cart of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 schematically depicts a thermoelectric device of the mobile foodcarrying cart of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a mobile foodcarrying cart generally referred to by reference numeral 10 isillustrated. Cart 10 may heat, cool, and provide temperature controlstorage at a desired temperature for a plurality of food products, suchas frozen food, fresh food, or wine for uses such as commercial ormilitary applications. However, the present disclosure contemplates thestorage and refrigeration of other such food and non-food items.

The products are stored on a plurality of shelves 30. The size, shapeand number of shelves 30, as well as their configuration in cart 10, canvary with the particular needs of cart 10. Such factors as sizing,mobility, refrigeration needs, heating needs, container capacity, andothers can be used by one of ordinary skill in the art to determine theparticular size, shape and number of shelves 30, as well as theirconfiguration in cart 10. In the exemplary embodiment, each of theshelves 30 has a planar, rectangular shape having tray areas 32 for theplacement of each of the food products and spaces 34 each having aninner volume, preferably, opposite tray areas 32.

Each of shelves 30 has at least one of thermoelectric devices 40disposed in each of spaces 34. Each of spaces 34, preferably, alignsthermoelectric devices 40 with each of tray areas 32 to be in thermalcommunication with the food products for heating or cooling. In theexemplary embodiment, each of thermoelectric devices 40 has a first side42 facing each of tray areas 32 that is a cold side or face and a secondside 44 facing away from each of tray areas 32 that is a warm side orface. Alternatively, first side 42 may be the warm side and second side44 may be the cold side. First side 42 can be in thermal communicationwith each of tray areas 32, while second side 44 can be in thermalisolation from each of tray areas 32 to provide heating or cooling. Eachof tray areas 32 may be in thermal communication with more than one ofspaces 34 and thermoelectric devices 40 to provide both heating andcooling. Moreover, each of shelves 30 may have more than one of spaces34 and thermoelectric devices 40 according to the particular heating orcooling needs and other factors related to cart 10.

Through conduction, thermoelectric devices 40 heat or cool the productsstored in cart 10. Shelves 30 and thermoelectric devices 40 disposedtherein take advantage of the localized nature of thermoelectric heatingor cooling to provide for efficient, individualized or spot heating orcooling for each of the food products. Thus, cart 10 may simultaneouslystore, heat, or cool more than one food product at differenttemperatures.

The particular type, including materials, dimensions and shape, of eachof thermoelectric devices 40 that is utilized can vary according to theparticular needs of cart 10. In particular, high temperaturethermoelectric devices for providing maximum heating and cooling may beutilized. Thermoelectric devices 40 can be conventional thermoelectricmodules used for contact cooling but could also be thermoelectricmaterials integrated into various heat exchanger designs, e.g, air-air,air-liquid etc., with device design choices being application specific.The particular type, including materials, dimensions and shape, ofthermoelectric devices 40 can vary according to the particular needs ofcart 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, to provide an electric current to each ofthermoelectric devices 40, a connection assembly 50 is connectedthereto. Connection assembly 50 may be accessed in space 34 whilethermoelectric devices 40 are disposed therein for connecting a controlbox 70. Connection assembly 50, preferably, is a quick connect socketfor a connection, e.g., via wiring, to control box 70. Connectionassembly 50 or quick connect may extend out of each of shelves 50 tomake direct contact with plugs that connect to control box 70. It isenvisioned that the quick connect feature allow for easily removableshelves that are easy to maintain and/or repair. Thus, each of shelves30 having thermoelectric devices 40 and connection assembly 50 comprisesa module that may be selectively connected and disconnected to controlbox 70 and cart 10 for changing configuration, cleaning, or other needsof cart 10.

In the exemplary embodiment, the desired temperature of thermoelectricdevices 40 may be controlled by control box 70. Control box 70 can beconnected to a power supply 60, which is connected to thermoelectricdevices 40. Control box 70 controls energy or current provided by powersource 60 to thermoelectric devices 40, and consequently controlstemperatures generated by thermoelectric devices 40 that arecommunicated to one or more of tray areas 32. Thus, each ofthermoelectric devices 40 may provide a variety of temperatures to oneor more of the food products at an identical location on one of shelves30. For example, cart 10 may be used to cool frozen food while shippedto a location, and once at the location, the frozen food can be heatedfor serving prior to removal from cart 10. Not all of the frozen foodstored in cart 10 may need to be heated, thus, localized thermoelectricheating can be provided to each of tray areas 32 of the frozen food tobe served, while localized thermoelectric cooling can be provided toeach of tray areas 32 of the frozen food to be stored. Thus, cart 10 hasfine tuned temperature control for transport and delivery of differentfood types at their requisite temperature.

Power supply 60 may be any power source such as a DC power source fromfuel cells, photovoltaics, fuel or heat driven generator, internalcombustion, solar electricity cells, battery bank, or any combinationthereof for providing a mobile power source, or a power grid providingpower in a single location. Moreover, power supply 60 or cart 10 mayhave an inverter for any AC power source.

Cart 10 may also include a vapor compression cycle for additional oralternative cooling or heating, in particular, vapor compression cyclemay provide a refrigeration mode of operation.

While the instant disclosure has been described with reference to one ormore exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes may be made and equivalents may besubstituted for elements thereof without departing from the scopethereof. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosurewithout departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended thatthe disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosedas the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but thatthe invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope ofthe appended claims.

1. A heating and cooling system connected to a mobile food carryingcart, the system comprising: at least one shelf; and a plurality ofthermoelectric devices connected to said at least one shelf, whereineach of said plurality of thermoelectric devices is in thermalcommunication with said at least one shelf, and wherein each of saidplurality of thermoelectric devices heat, cool, and provides temperaturecontrol storage at a preselected temperature.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein each of said plurality of thermoelectric devices has aconnection socket.
 3. The system of claim 2, further comprising acontrol box selectively connectable to said connection socket.
 4. Thesystem of claim 3, further comprising a power supply connected to saidcontrol box, wherein said control box adjustably controls energyprovided to said plurality of thermoelectric devices from said powersupply.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein said power supply is selectedfrom the group consisting of a fuel cell, a photovoltaic, a fuel or heatdriven generator, an internal combustion engine, a solar cell, a powergrid, a battery bank, and any combination thereof.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are adapted tosimultaneously store, heat, and cool said at least one shelf atdifferent temperatures.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of saidplurality of thermoelectric devices is independently controllable bysaid control box.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vaporcompression cycle connected to the mobile food carrying cart.
 9. Amobile food carrying cart for transporting food products to differentlocations at a desired temperature comprising: a support structure; atleast one shelf removably connected to said support structure; and aplurality of thermoelectric devices connected to said at least oneshelf, wherein each of said plurality of thermoelectric devices is inthermal communication with said at least one shelf, and wherein each ofsaid plurality of thermoelectric devices heat, cool, and providestemperature control storage at a preselected temperature.
 10. The cartof claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of thermoelectric devices hasa socket connected thereto.
 11. The cart of claim 10, further comprisinga control box selectively connectable to said socket.
 12. The cart ofclaim 11, further comprising a power supply connected to said controlbox, wherein said control box adjustably controls energy provided tosaid plurality of thermoelectric devices from said power supply.
 13. Thecart of claim 12, wherein said power supply is selected from the groupconsisting of a fuel cell, a photovoltaic, a fuel or heat drivengenerator, an internal combustion, a solar cell, a power grid, a batterybank, and any combination thereof.
 14. The cart of claim 9, wherein saidplurality of thermoelectric devices are adapted to simultaneously store,heat, and cool said at least one shelf at different temperatures. 15.The cart of claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of thermoelectricdevices is independently controllable by said control box.
 16. The cartof claim 9, further comprising a vapor compression cycle connected tosaid support structure.
 17. The cart of claim 9, wherein said at leastone shelf is a plurality of shelves.
 18. A method of transporting foodproducts comprising: storing the food products in a mobile cart having aplurality of thermoelectric devices in thermal communication with thefood products; controlling energy provided to said plurality ofthermoelectric devices connected to at least one shelf of said mobilecart; and transporting said mobile cart to a desired location fordelivery of the food products.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising removably connecting a power supply to a quick connectsocket, wherein said quick connect socket is connected to said pluralityof thermoelectric devices.
 20. (canceled)